NEW TO CRICKET?

New to Cricket?

If you are new to cricket, here is some advice and information to help you make the most of your day at the club.

UNDERSTANDING THE GAME

HOURS OF PLAY

A test match usually commences at 11am and continues until 6pm, with scheduled breaks for tea and lunch.

OVERVIEW

Cricket is played between two teams of 11 players. The team that scores the most runs in its innings wins the match.

INNINGS

The innings in cricket organise where players are and what they are doing. When a team is batting, it is their inning. The players switch roles when an inning is over.

OVERS

Six balls constitute one over, and each team’s innings is either limited to a certain number of overs or time limited to a certain number of days, as in Test and first-class cricket.

SCORING

A run is scored each time the two batsmen on the field run between the white creases at either end of the pitch. These can be scored whenever the ball is 'in play', i.e. the time between when the ball leaves the bowler's hand and when it's returned to the wicketkeeper or bowler. The further the ball is hit away from any fielders, the more runs can be scored. The best shots reach the field boundary and are awarded four runs (if the ball bounces first) or six (if it doesn't).

RUNS

A batsman isn't just trying to avoid getting out. They are also trying to score runs to help their team win the game. A run is scored if the batsman hits the ball away from the wicket, and is able to run from one set of stumps to the other. Every time they make it, one run is scored. If the ball crosses the boundary - a line around the edge of the field - without bouncing it is worth six runs, if it bounces first, then it is worth four runs.

UMPIRING SIGNALS | WHAT DO THEY MEAN?

NO BALL

Right arm outstretched

NO BALL

WIDE BALL

Both arms outstretched

WIDE BALL

LEG BYE

Right leg raised and clasped by the right hand

LEG BYE

A leg bye is a run scored by the batting team when the batsman has not hit the ball with his bat, but the ball has hit the batsman's leg or protective gear.

BYE SCORED

Right arm raised skywards

BYE SCORED

Usually, if the ball passes the batsman without being deflected, the wicket-keeper will catch it. This normally prevents the scoring of runs because the batsmen will be unable to complete a run before being stumped or run out by the wicket-keeper. However, if the wicket-keeper fumbles or misses the ball, the batsmen may be able to score runs safely. These runs are scored as byes: they are added to the team's total, but not to the numbers of runs scored by either batsman

FOUR RUNS SCORED

Right hand and arm swept across the body

FOUR RUNS SCORED

SIX RUNS SCORED

Both arms held above the head and index fingers outstretched

SIX RUNS SCORED

BATSMAN GIVEN OUT

Index finger raised towards the batsman

BATSMAN GIVEN OUT

BATSMAN ONE SHORT

Right arm held at out horizontally then flexed back to touch the shoulder

BATSMAN ONE SHORT

This is called when a batsman is running two or more runs, but fails to make his ground and puts his bat in short at one of the turns

FREE HIT

Right hand raised and revolving in a clockwise motion

FREE HIT

The delivery after a front foot no ball in T20 cricket is a 'free hit' for the facing batsman. The bowling side cannot change the field and the batsman cannot be out caught, stumped or bowled but can be run out

INTERNATIONAL GAME FORMATS

TEST MATCH

This is a very traditional form of cricket, played with a red ball and the players play in white traditional cricket kit

| 5 days of cricket

| Both teams bat and field twice

| A team must take 20 wickets to win the game

ONE DAY MATCH

| 50 overs per side

| Teams only bat once and field once

| Players wear coloured kit and play with a white ball

TWENTY 20 MATCH

| 20 overs per side

| Teams only bat once and field once

| Players wear coloured kit and play with a white ball

THE LBW RULE EXPLAINED

A | Not out. Ball striking pad outside line of stumps. Ball would not have hit stumps

B | Out only if the batsman did not play a shot. Ball pitched outside the line of off-stump

C | Out, if the umpire feels the ball would have hit the stumps and not missed the top